Terps to kick off Big Ten football schedule against Indiana

Maryland will start Big Ten play in 2014

The Big Ten announced on Thursday its football schedule for the 2014 season, which will mark the University of Maryland’s inaugural season in the conference. Maryland’s home conference schedule will feature matchups with Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State and Rutgers. The Terrapins will travel to Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan.

“It is great to know that we have our schedule for our inaugural season in the Big Ten,” Head Football Coach Randy Edsall said. “This is a very attractive and challenging schedule and is one our coaching staff, student-athletes and fans will look forward to playing in 2014.”

The Terrapin’s first Big Ten matchup will come on Saturday, Sept. 27 when they travel to Bloomington, Ind. to play the Indiana Hoosiers. This will mark the first time these two teams have played since 1935, when Indiana defeated Maryland 13-7 at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers hold 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.

Maryland will face Ohio State in its first Big Ten home conference game on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

After a week off, Maryland hosts Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 18, marking the first-ever meeting between the two universities. The Terrapins return to the road the following week, traveling to Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 25 for their first-ever game against the 2012 Big Ten Champion Badgers.

Maryland stays on the road on Saturday, Nov. 1 for its first meeting with Penn State since 1993 and their first trip to State College since 1992. This marks the 38th meeting between the two schools.

Following a week off, Maryland returns to College Park to host Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 15. This will be the first time the two teams have met since 1950, when Maryland won 34-7.

Maryland makes its first trip to Ann Arbor since 1990 when they play the Wolverines on Saturday, Nov. 22. Michigan was victorious in the last meeting and is 3-0 all-time against Maryland.

The Terrapins close out their inaugural Big Ten schedule on Saturday, Nov. 29 when they host Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights, who will also make their Big Ten debut in 2014, last traveled to College Park in 2009.

Of the eight conference opponents Maryland will face in 2014, two finished the 2012 season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 and four of them played in bowls, including one BCS bowl (Ohio State and Penn State were both ineligible for postseason play). Six of the schools finished with a winning record in 2012, including Wisconsin who won the Big Ten Championship.